how is black better here?

im really curious how black can be better in this position, computer says -0.7 even though white has more space, and better development, anyone?

r1bq1rk1/p2n1pbp/1pppp1p1/8/PPPPP3/2NBQN2/5PPP/R4RK1 b - - 0 12

I don't know. Black initial position is defense

A classic case of overstretching. Case clear.

The pawns are too advanced, 1-2 pawn levers (c5, a5) and the position can become difficult.

Sometimes it is called „negative space advantage“, pawns and pieces are not placed harmonically, e.g. too few pieces for too much space.

@Sarg0n Obviously this weak CM does not know anything about chess. You cant really have too much space in chess. black is forced to sit and wait while white has more space to maneuver his pieces to better squares in order to achieve the breaks

I would not call ...c7-c5 or ...a7-a5 „sit and wait“. The two bishops are a valuable asset as well.

By the way, ask the engine. Is it strong enough?

PS: a simple example of „too much space“ that you understand the concept, Black to move is much better:

lichess.org/editor/3q1rk1/pp1pppp1/7p/8/PP1PPPPP/8/8/2QR2K1 b - -

So with black to move I am not so surprised since black can play c5 and white will be left with the worse structure and an open position against the pair of bishops. What is more interesting is if you change the starting position to be white to move. Here again the computer prefers black! I think the main point is that black can always free himself with the c5 break after which white will be left with some dark square weaknesses and a fight against the bishop pair.

Its important to realize that the only edge white really has is his space advantage which, which has not sufficed in cramping blacks pieces to bad squares. Black on the other hand has a solid and flexible structure with no apparent weaknesses (good luck attacking the dark kingside squares without the dark squared bishop) and the pair of bishops.

If you were to switch the position of the white bishop and queen things look much better for white as the dark square bishop protects its weaknesses and white can keep the position rather stable after c5. If you additionally let white move first he has time for Rfd1 which prevents c5 due to the pin on the d-file that would result in a great improvement of whites chances.

Yeah right, probably it‘s the Bg7 which makes the difference. Instead of pushing all pawns a timely c2-c3 might have been better to bolster the sniper. I like Black.

Komodo's assessment of the position : -0.45
Komodo's assessment with Be3 and Qd3 : +0.3
Komodo's assessment with an extra B on d2 and an extra knight on e7 : +0.3

All three assessments are given with Black to move. They fluctuate by less than 0.1 ; they are stable, do not depend on tactics or the horizon. To be fair, with White to move in the original position, the a5-push mitigate White's disadvantage (-0.3).

Conclusion : there is no space advantage for White as Black is not cramped. Same line of reasoning as "a weakness is not a weakness if it can't be attacked". This is sometimes referred to as an "optical space advantage" by some authors. If we want to analyze in fruitful terms, we have to dwelve into other, more meaningful features of the position.

lichess.org/analysis/standard/r1bq1rk1/p2n1pbp/1pppp1p1/8/PPPPP3/2NBQN2/5PPP/R4RK1_b_-_-_0_12

The bishop's pair is real.
Space advantage is an illusion. Many games have been won from cramped positions e.g. in the Hedgehog Defence. Many games have been lost with overextended positions e.g. the 4 pawns variation of the King's Indian Defence. A space advantage is only beneficial in the manoeuvring against 2 weaknesses, as the defender with the cramped position cannot meet the swiftness of the manoeuvre. Even in that case the 2 weaknesses are real and the space advantage is only helpful.

Black has just two pawn chains, white has three. White is also a bit weak on the dark squares. He is missing his dark squared bishop. Still it is probably just a slight advantage for black because white pieces are placed ok and the bishop g7 doesnt attack anything (yet).

Replace Nc3 in the start position with a bishop and white is better. The bishop protects d4 and b4.

A space advantage is irrelevant if some of the advanced pawns can be exchanged by pawn levers, here c5 and a5, as @Sarg0n #3 already said. Then files will open and the remaining advanced pawns, now isolated or backward, can be attacked from the side or from behind or from the front via the open files by opponent pieces. This is especially dangerous if the player with less space has a development advantage, because an advanced pawn can be attacked more quickly than a pawn in the starting position. This principle was found by Steinitz. He developed his theory of defence, which is the base for many modern openings: The pawns in the starting position are the best defenders. This is right, but Steinitz sometimes exaggerated and refused to bring the pieces out. He was a theorist, but this was good for the development of chess theory. Today we say, pawn advances are good if they are supported by the pieces. Quick development and active placement of the pawns (create pawn duos!) play hand in hand.

Classic example game by Fischer how to play if the opp advances his pawns too early and falls back in development: Open files! Doesnt matter if it costs one or two pawns, they will be won back with advantage.